Rylands Way, 14th October 2006

Three goals from three different scorers were enough for Wootton Bassett Town to progress through to the next round of the Wilts Senior Cup as they beat a tough, energetic New College side 3-1.

Bassett made their opponents look out of their depth in the first twenty minutes and were unlucky to only lead 1-0 going to half time. 30 seconds in, Nathan Hall had a shot from eight yards cleared off the line after Dwayne Quinn helped on a Matty Bennett cross.

Mark King netted his second goal of the season on 4 minutes as he powerfully volleyed home a Hall cross from 12 yards.

Looking for his second in the 16th minute, King found only the side netting after cutting in from the right but could also have put through Steve Yeardley who was ready to pounce in the middle of the box.

After a shaky opening spell, the visitors, to their credit, put up a battling display for the rest of the game and Bassett had 'keeper Adam Miller to thank once again as he kept New College from equalising.

With 24 minutes gone Ben Rutter picked out an unmarked Sean Wood with a crossfield ball. His attempted lob of Miller, who had raced off his line, was batted away brilliantly to avert the danger.

Steve Yeardley was booked five minutes later for a dangerous tackle from behind before Tom Cadden shot just wide from 15 yards after Scott Campbell did well to pick him out.

Paul Crabtree was booked on the stroke of half time and King missed another chance to double his tally for the day when his attempted lob of Gary Eggleton rolled wide after the forward had capitalised on a defensive error.

Both sides took the game to each other in a frantically paced second period. Four minutes after the restart the Bassett defence allowed Mark Chatwin to take a shot at goal but his long range effort went just over.

Steve Yeardley doubled Bassett's lead in the 52nd minute, sliding in to direct a low Matty Bennett cross into the back of the net from six yards, this after Chris Mills' well weighted ball into the corner for Bennett to run onto. Paul Burke made his first change after the goal, bringing Andy White on for Hall.

A freak goal brought New College back into the game. Bassett were caught offside five yards into their opponents' half and Jordan King thumped the free kick upfield. The ball took a wicked bounce in front of Miller who got a finger to the ball but couldn't stop it from going in. A minute later King was booked for dissent.

Stu Hemsley replaced Andy Hallett on the hour mark before Miller made up for the freak goal with a great reflex save in the 70th minute.

Bassett were caught on the break and Cadden's low cross was connected with by Bradley Gill eight yards out and the ball cannoned off Miller's head and wide. Bassett failed to clear from the resulting corner and Chatwin forced a save with a shot from the edge of the area.

Sam Lawro, a late replacement for the injured Scott Large, came on for Mark King with just under twenty minutes to go. On 74 minutes Bennett ran onto a Hemsley ball over the top but could only fire wide after being put under pressure from Matty Hoare.

A minute later a Mills long throw found an unmarked Bennett ten yards out but Eggleton was well placed and comfortably held a powerful strike from Bennett.

Gill again missed from close range as he fired over from six yards after connecting with another Cadden cross. With eleven minutes to go a Bennett free kick from the right corner was connected with by Yeardley and beat Eggleton but bounced over off the bar.

Hemsley finished the game as a contest in the 83rd minute as he raced onto a Dwayne Quinn through ball and dinked the ball over the oncoming Eggleton from twenty yards to the displeasure of number one fan Steve Bunting.

Hemsley could have had another two minutes later but struck over first time after Bennett cut the ball back to the edge of the area.

Substitute Josh Goldsworthy was unlucky to not reduce the deficit to a single goal as his header rolled just wide after he lost Rich Gee and flicked a deep Rutter ball goalwards.

Scoop's Man of the Match: Matty Bennett – was unlucky not to grab a couple goals himself but provided the assist for Yeardley's goal and his crosses troubled the New College defence all day long.

Scoop Rating: 7/10 – Should have really won the game by more with the amount of chances created but after a dominant opening twenty minutes, Bassett were given a stern test as New College battled to the death.

Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 20th September 2020 at 14:57